![]() “Our street medicine program complements a number of other programs Garden Grove has proactively implemented, and will continue doing, to achieve beneficial solutions to homelessness.” About CalOptima HealthĪ county-organized health system, CalOptima Health provides publicly funded health care coverage for low-income children, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities in Orange County, California. “Garden Grove is proud to be the first Orange County city to provide this very unique medical outreach program to our homeless community, in partnership with CalOptima Health and Healthcare in Action,” said Garden Grove Mayor Steve Jones. A medical team with a physician assistant and registered nurse will provide primary care and clinical management, and a peer navigator team with two staff who have lived experience will offer supportive services and community resources. The Garden Grove program will deploy two teams that do complementary work. Through our unique ‘street based’ model, we are able to provide sustainable, primary care addressing the complex medical and social needs of this population, and we look forward to bringing that to individuals in the City of Garden Grove.” “Since our inception in 2022, we have seen the success of approaching the homelessness crisis through the lens of health care. “Healthcare in Action is proud to partner with CalOptima Health and support their commitment to unhoused members,” said Michael Hochman, M.D., CEO of Healthcare in Action. CalOptima Health’s overarching goal is to reduce health disparities across the county. In March 2023, the Board awarded $29.9 million in community grants to organizations serving the population, with $21 million going toward 400 permanent supportive housing units. The program is the latest in a longstanding effort by CalOptima Health’s Board to provide funding and innovations that address local homeless health needs. Funding of $4 million will support operations for two years, and the unique managed care model will then be sustained after the initial two years through State Medi-Cal reimbursement. In November 2022, CalOptima Health’s Board of Directors approved the selection of Healthcare in Action based on its experience, capacity, and ability to launch the street medicine program in the desired timeframe. This is not just urgent care on the streets - it’s so much more.” We want to foster long-term connections and trust that lead to ongoing medical care and expanded social support. “Members are assigned to Healthcare in Action’s providers and can rely on them just like other patients do with their doctors in ‘brick-and-mortar’ locations. “CalOptima Health street medicine is different than other programs,” said Kelly Bruno-Nelson, Executive Director, Medi-Cal/CalAIM. “This program stands out for its emphasis on a comprehensive patient-centered approach, which involves meeting individuals at their specific location, addressing all aspects of their well-being and enhancing their quality of life.” “As Supervisor for the Second District and a CalOptima Health Board member, I am happy to see the launch of the first-of-its-kind street medicine program in our county, offering personalized medical care to vulnerable and hard-to-reach community members,” said Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento. Services will include primary care, behavioral health and case management but also the expanded whole-person care resources now available through CalAIM, a state initiative offering a new set of Medi-Cal benefits that includes housing services. Through a contract, Healthcare in Action will deliver primary care to up to 200 CalOptima Health members using a medical van to canvas the Garden Grove community and reach members living in parks, under freeways and other unsheltered spaces. As Orange County’s Medi-Cal plan serving low-income populations, CalOptima Health pursued the program based on the recognition that housing is health. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |